The Applications

1. High-Speed Barcode + OCR That Stays Readable Under Motion

On packaging lines, products often vibrate, rotate, or surge—exactly when code reading becomes unreliable. A Sony IMX273 global shutter camera captures the entire frame at once, keeping barcode modules and printed characters geometrically correct instead of slanted or stretched. Use hardware triggering from a photoeye or encoder so every item is captured at the same physical position. The flash output can synchronize a strobe to shorten exposure and overpower reflections on glossy film. Region-of-interest capture focuses only on the code zone, increasing inspection throughput and reducing CPU load.

2. Pick-and-Place Alignment for SMT and Micro-Assembly Robotics

Robotic placement depends on accurate vision geometry during fast moves and short dwell times. With IMX273 global shutter imaging, fiducials, pad edges, and component outlines remain true, improving centroid detection and rotation estimation. Triggered acquisition tied to the robot controller ensures consistent timing, while a strobed light driven by the camera’s flash signal minimizes motion blur and glare from metallic surfaces. The 12-bit output can improve segmentation when contrast is subtle, such as silkscreen over solder mask. Cropping to the work zone speeds processing for real-time guidance.

3. Inline Dimensional Measurement on Moving Parts Without False Rejects

When measuring parts on conveyors—pins, clips, stamped pieces, molded components—rolling-shutter distortion can mimic real dimensional changes. IMX273 global shutter capture preserves straight edges and roundness, supporting stable sub-pixel measurement and contour fitting. Triggering ensures repeatable timing as each part enters the measurement window, and short, strobed exposures make edges crisp even at high belt speeds. Using a tight ROI around the gauge feature increases the effective inspection rate and reduces latency. The outcome is more consistent pass/fail decisions with fewer “mystery rejects” caused by imaging artifacts.

4. Web Inspection for Labels, Film, and Print Registration Control

Continuous web processes require consistent imaging despite speed variation, vibration, and changing substrate reflectivity. An IMX273 camera’s high frame-rate capability and deterministic trigger support help verify registration marks, print alignment, and label placement in real time. Multiple ROIs can monitor critical zones—such as a registration mark and a print edge—without processing the full frame. Flash-synchronized strobes keep contrast stable across glossy, matte, or semi-transparent materials. By catching drift early, you reduce scrap and prevent downstream issues such as misapplied labels, incorrect branding, or unreadable date codes.

5. Machine Mechanism Verification and Microsecond-Scale Fault Hunting

Many automation failures happen too quickly for operators to observe: feeder mis-picks, cutter timing slip, incomplete seating, or bounce in an indexing mechanism. IMX273 global shutter imaging captures distortion-free frames that preserve geometry during rapid motion, making fault signatures easier to detect. Trigger capture from PLC events correlates images to exact machine states, while burst buffering helps avoid missing the one critical cycle. Strobe synchronization enables very short exposures to isolate fast-moving edges and contact points. This supports faster root-cause analysis and reduces downtime from intermittent faults that are otherwise difficult to reproduce.

 

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